Does Drinking Coke Help Migraine Attacks?
If your social media algorithm is serving you migraine hacks, or if you belong to any migraine support groups or migraine subreddits, you’ve probably heard many people swear by the use of one very familiar product to soothe their attacks: Coca-Cola.
When we asked the Zanskar community for their thoughts on this popular “remedy“ for migraine, our comments section bubbled over with hundreds of responses confirming that many people with migraine count on Coke to help get them through attacks, whether to soothe their pain or quell their nausea:
Ice-cold, full-sugar Coke for me. Maybe it’s the coldness, like wearing the ice cap from inside; maybe it’s a blast of caffeine and sugar. — Pragya
I keep Coke cans stocked in my fridge for this very reason. — Amit Kumar
It’s the only time I drink Coke, and the attack has to be really bad. — Meera
I had a four-day horrific migraine; none of my meds were working, and no amount of sleep helped. Two sips of Coca-Cola and it was gone. — Richa G.
Sometimes when I’ve tried everything else, a can of Coke will do the trick. — Aarya
But what is it about this iconic beverage that has people making videos of themselves with Coke in hand — touting its benefits for migraine?
Is it the caffeine? The sugar? The bubbles?
Our experts take a look 👇
What Is the Appeal of Coca-Cola for People With Migraine?
As you may have guessed, it seems to be the caffeine and sugar that do the trick.
“Both the caffeine and sugar may be helping in different ways,” says a Zanskar pain expert. “Caffeine is an active ingredient in various headache medications, including both over-the-counter and prescription medications. There is also some limited evidence that suggests sugar or its sweet taste may increase pain tolerance in the short term,” she says.
Additionally, use caution when consuming products with artificial sweeteners, like Diet Coke, as they can be migraine triggers for some people.
